Blog Day The Tenin Technique

How could I not come back for this momentous occasion in CDPB history? And what is a party without punch? So, here I am!

Hello everyone. How have you been? Good. Me? I've been OK. Busy. Not picked up my camera since New Years Eve, until last week. It felt very strange actually but the break from snapping pictures has done me good. I'm still not ready to come back to Cheltenham Daily Photo yet. One day maybe. But I am starting to take photos again. And reminding myself why I liked photography in the first place. Anyway. Today isn't about me.

Today's special Blog Day is to celebrate the start of this wonderful community, 5 short years ago, by our great leader Eric Tenin, with the first daily city photo blog - Paris Daily Photo. The challenge for this unique theme day is to take a photo in the style of the 'Friendly Parisian', either on the ground or at a jaunty angle. This is my tribute to Eric - Cheltenham Town Hall as seen from the pavement.

Check out who else has come to the anniversary party by clicking here.

All That Glitters

I couldn't decide which photo to show today, so you get both - the original one and the one with added sparkle. The party season will soon be upon us and I'm sure lots of you ladies will be buying new outfits and accessories, because you just haven't got anything to wear!

The winner of last weeks competition, to tell us what's behind the red door, is (drum roll please...) Ken Mac. He reckons its "a long tunnel leading to a basement, then to a drainage grate where a young woman watches frogs mate"! I'll have what he's having! A Cheltenham postcard is on its way to you (Postal strikes allowing!)

Pump Room

This is my last photo of Pitville Park, and it shows the magnificent looking Pitville Pump Room. The building stands at the northern end of the park and looks over the lake and gardens. The Pump Room is one of the towns finest examples of Regency architecture, with its main feature being the Ionic columns that front onto the large lawn.

Building work started in 1825 and took 5 years to complete, with a grand opening and ball being held on the 20th July 1830. The building was the idea of wealthy banker Joseph Pitt and was designed by architect John Forbes, who had a hand in the design of many other Cheltenham buildings. It cost £40,000 to complete, but the Pump Room soon ran into difficulties and it was sold to the Borough Council for just £5,400 in 1890! Throughout the second world war the Pump Room was used as a base by the American Army and, during this time of deprivation ,the building was greatly neglected, infact it is said that the dry rot was so bad that the plaster was all that was stopping the dome from collapsing! After public subscription and government grants the total of £43,200 was raised in 1960 to help restore the building.

Inside the Pump Room today you can still sample the Spa water (pumped from an 80 foot deep well), while marvelling at the grand dome and sweeping staircase. The Pump Room is now Cheltenhams most popular wedding venue and at other times of the year is used for concerts, shows and exhibitions. Infact you could hire it for your next party, just make sure I'm on the guest list!

Night On The Ginger Beer

In Cheltenham we don't have many large stores with extravagant Christmas window displays like other towns and cities. Ours just tend to be mannequins in party gear with hanging baubles and fairy lights in the background. But this window is great! A drunk gingerbread man in his Y fronts, complete with traffic cone, about to get a bashing from his gingerbread wife with a rolling pin! The store didn't want to lose sight of what its trying to sell, hence the mannequin in party gear to the side of the impending gingerbread earful!

Click on the photo for a larger version and check out all the detail.

Town Hall

I've learnt something new today. While doing a spot of research into the history of Cheltenhams Town Hall I discovered that the Town Hall was built as an addition to the Winter Garden and not the other way round. This may not be an earth shattering discovery but as I am a proud Cheltonian I'm disappointed with my own lack of knowledge. Anyway...the Town Hall sits in Imperial Square, on the north side of Imperial Garden. On this site there used to be a Winter Garden (a large glass and steel building used for concerts, demolished in 1940 and considered a white elephant to the Council) and in 1900 it was decided that Cheltenham needed a larger function building after the demolition of the Assembly Rooms. In 1902 construction work started on Gloucester architect Frederick William Waller's design of an impressive Baroque style building. Behind the foundation stone, still visible today, a bottle was placed containing coins and the days newspapers, as was tradition then. The complete build took a year and two months and cost £45,000. The main feature of the Town Hall is the main hall, measuring 92 feet by 52 feet and 53 feet high, with Corinthian columns, balconies and sprung floor. In 1906 the Cheltenham Spa was opened inside the building and has an octagonal counter and large urns. You can still take the Spa water there today but nowadays you have to serve yourself! Having tasted the water once (once was enough) I can tell you its best described as warm and salty! The Town hall can accommodate 1000 people and now holds banquets, concerts, live shows, balls and many other events. I've been to several different things at the Town Hall, the best being a fantastic New Years Eve party with indoor fireworks and 20 foot high flames shooting into the air! That was a good night.